WAI has made significant headway with its innovative training and development initiative that is designed to enhance industry knowledge and skills through a structured and comprehensive approach.

Industry experts and staff have completed most of the first of five training modules. Each one consists of short videos, none lasting more than five minutes. Each module includes knowledge checks throughout the videos. Upon completing a module, learners receive a certificate of completion.

WAI is collaborating with a motion designer who specializes in manufacturing “explainer” videos. Each one will feature a blend of shop floor footage and animated segments that clarify complex concepts. Narration is done by a professional voiceover artist to ensure that the material is engaging and easy to follow. Each module is developed under the guidance of primary and secondary subject matter experts to ensure
the content is both accurate and relevant. The first four videos of the inaugural module, Ferrous Metallurgy, were showcased last month at Wire Expo 2024.

In parallel with content creation, WAI staff evaluated various learning management systems (LMS) to host the online training. WAI’s Education Committee has provided their input, and now it is advancing to the Executive Committee. The aim is to finalize the LMS selection by the end of July 2024. Key features being considered for the LMS include group enrollment and progress tracking, white-label access for large companies, the ability to host custom content, a user-friendly interface with Single Sign-On (SSO), and scalability to support future growth.

The Ferrous Metallurgy module is slated for completion by late summer/early fall 2024, along with the soft launch of the LMS. The second module, Single Layer Extrusion Overview, is expected to be ready by the end of 2024. n

Francesco Tutino has been named the new Group Chief HR & Organization Officer for Prysmian. He has more than 20 years of experience in the HR area, having held leadership positions at several multinational companies. He has taken on various roles during his career, including at DENSO and CNH, most recently as chief human resources and IT officer of the Iveco Group. Based in Italy, Prysmian is the world’s largest wire and cable manufacturer.

ICE Cable Systems has named Timothy Copp as its chief operating officer. He is recognized as a leading expert in reel-less cable packaging technology, having spent 21 years with REELEX Packing Solutions, Inc., where his father, Tom Copp, had led the company for 26 years until his retirement in 2021. Timothy Copp served as a brand manager and business development vice president, but he was also recognized for being a very vocal leader in protecting the company’s trademark and speaking out against counterfeit versions of its products. He holds a B.S. degree in entrepreneurial and small business operations from Babson College and an MBA from Western Connecticut State University. He recently served as chairman of CCCA’s (Communications Cable and Connectivity Association) Compliance Committee and as a board member of WCISA (Wire Cable Industry Suppliers Association). Based in Austin, Texas, ICE Cable Systems is a leading brand of premium low-voltage wire and cable products that was an early adopter of REELEX technology for their packaging.

American Wire Group has named Felipe Cam as its Chief Information Officer (CIO), a new position for the business that will see him be responsible for leading and supporting the company’s digital transformation of its networks. He will also play a critical role in integrating and managing technology solutions. He holds a B.S. degree in business from the University of Illinois and an executive
MBA from the University of Miami. He brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles across logistics, manufacturing and commerce industries. Based in Miami, Florida, American Wire Group is a leading material supplier of wire and cable, and more, for the utility and renewable energy markets.

Davis-Standard has named Brian Anderson as its chief procurement officer, with global responsibility. He has more than 30 years of experience in procurement and supply chain management, holding key roles with Duracell Inc., Robert Bosch and the Marmon Group, among others. He holds a degree in business and education from Illinois State University and a Master’s in the supply chain from Elmhurst University. Based in Pawcatuck, Connecticut, Davis-Standard LLC designs and manufactures extrusion and converting technology.

John Tatum “Tate” Johnson III has joined Mid-South Wire as an account manager for the southeast region. He is the son of company President John T. Johnson, Jr., and is the 3rd generation in the Johnson family’s ownership of the business. Tate worked summers in the rod yard, and spent time with the inside sales department while attending The University of Alabama, where he earned a degree in sports marketing. He started at the company’s Missouri plant, drawing wire and learning the operations side. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Mid-South Wire manufactures products from steel rod to specialty drawn wire.

The Madem Reels Group reports that it has not only directly captured more carbon from the atmosphere than its emissions, it has done so to a level that far exceeds what most companies report for mitigating climate change.

A press release said that per the findings of Brazil’s Ecofinance Negocios, which considers biogenic and fossil emissions for Scope 3 assessments, the Group captured more gases in 2022 than it emitted through the natural carbon capture provided by its cultivated forests. Further, the accumulated inventory from the company’s native and cultivated forests accounts for more than 195 times the fossil emissions.

The parent company of Madem Reels is one of the 15 largest forestry groups in Brazil, overseeing some 10,000 hectares (24,710 acres) of forestry properties. Its planted forests provide the wood used by the company’s production plant in Brazil. That sum accounts for more than half the woods used by the business, which also has plants in Spain, Bahrain, U.S., Mexico and Colombia.

“We are proud of our companies and teams worldwide, who are successfully performing their environmental mission,” said Global Sales and Marketing Director, Leandro Mazzoccato. “We are evenly fulfilled to share our long-term commitment with all 200 wire and cable customers over 45 countries.

 Taihan Cable & Solution (Taihan) announced the recent completion of the first step of its submarine cable plant 1 in the Godae district of the Asan National Industrial Complex in Dangjin-si, Chungcheongnam-do in South Korea.

A press release said that many notable executives from both Taihan and the Hoban Group—which bought the business previously known as Taihan Electric Wire in March—took part in the event. It featured a tour of the submarine cable production line, a ceremony to mark the commencement of operations at the plant, and several commemorative speeches.

The submarine cable plant 1 of Taihan, occupying around 44,800 sq m behind Godae Pier at Pyeongtaek’s Dangjin Port, is being built in two phases. The first step, which focuses on producing inter array cables, was finalized and approved this May. After a series of tests and prototype productions, the plant is scheduled to begin full-scale operations starting with the production of inter-array cables for the Yeonggwang Nakwol offshore wind power project. Last December Taihan secured a significant contract to supply inter array cables for the Yeonggwang-gun project.

Taihan Vice Chairman Song Jong-min said that the company “will expedite the construction of the second step of the submarine cable plant 1 and submarine cable plant 2.”

The second step of the submarine cable plant 1, for making export cables, is under construction with plans for completion by the first half of 2025. The second submarine cable plant will feature vertical continuous vulcanization (VCV) facilities for producing export cables and HVDC cables and is currently undergoing the final stages of review for site selection.

In other news, Taihan announced that it has won three significant power grid projects in the U.S. worth approximately $93.5 million.

A press release said that the orders represent “a substantial milestone” for the company, which specializes in manufacturing and supplying cables and solutions for power grids and other infrastructure projects. One of the projects calls for ultra-high voltage cable while the other two are for medium-to-low voltage cable.

The ultra-high voltage project, valued at around $32.4 million, is located in the eastern U.S., and involves constructing a 345 kV power grid for a new semiconductor plant in New York State. The other two projects are in the Los Angeles area of western California. One of those is a long-term project to supply medium-to-low voltage cables over three years. With this latest achievement, TC&S has secured over $237 million orders. The U.S. government’s initiatives and investments in upgrading and expanding the power grid further underscore the strategic importance of (our) projects.

South Korea’s LS Cable & System (LS C&S) will supply submarine cables worth approximately $207 million for the world’s first artificial energy island.

A press release said that the landmark project, Princess Elisabeth Island, is being constructed by Belgian power company ELIA in the North Sea, about 45 km off the coast of Belgium. “It is set to revolutionize the way renewable energy is managed and distributed.”

The submarine cables will play a crucial role in the island’s function, which is to store, distribute, and manage electricity generated from a 3.5 GW offshore wind farm. Once completed in 2030, Princess Elisabeth Island will serve as a hub for regulating energy supply between the mainland, the U.K. and Denmark. The island will be equipped with power conversion stations, energy storage systems, and grid connection facilities, ensuring a stable and efficient transmission of electricity between the artificial island and the mainland.

“We will be the first cable manufacturer to gain experience in constructing submarine cables for an artificial energy island,” the release said. “This will enhance our competitiveness in securing large-scale artificial island projects that Denmark and other countries are planning.”

Artificial energy islands are innovative solutions designed to manage and optimize the distribution of renewable energy generated from offshore sources. The global shift towards renewable energy is a critical context for this event, as countries around the world invest in renewable energy infrastructure to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Projects like Princess Elisabeth Island are part of this broader effort.

The geopolitical aspect of energy distribution is also significant. The artificial island will connect energy grids between Belgium, the U.K., and Denmark, highlighting the collaborative efforts in Europe to create a more integrated and resilient energy network. This project not only marks a significant milestone for LS Cable & System, a South Korean company specializing in cable manufacturing, but also showcases their capabilities in producing and installing submarine cables for complex, large-scale projects.

As the project progresses, LS Cable & System’s involvement in Princess Elisabeth Island will likely pave the way for future opportunities in the renewable energy sector, enhancing their position in the global market and contributing to the ongoing transition towards sustainable energy solutions.